The following is a message from our 2017 Industry Partner the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA).

NIADA’s Annual Trip to Washington – Now Called the National Policy Conference – Is All About Making the Independent Dealer’s Voice Heard

Sept. 25-27, Washington D.C.

The name has changed. The mission has not.

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s annual National Leadership Conference is now the National Policy Conference, rebranded to reflect the overriding focus and goal of the association’s yearly visit to Washington D.C.

That focus, of course, is to make the voice of the independent dealer heard by those who shape our federal government’s policies – legislators and the regulatory agencies with authority over the used vehicle industry.

That focus makes the National Policy Conference, coming up Sept. 25-27 at the Dupont Circle Hotel, perhaps NIADA’s most important and impactful event.

The highlight is the Day on Capitol Hill, when teams of dealers, NIADA staff and industry leaders visit the Hill and meet with members of Congress to discuss pending legislation, explain how what happens in Washington affects our businesses and deliver the message of the used vehicle industry in the most meaningful way possible: face-to-face.

“I can’t tell you the importance of having real people from back home come see us” to discuss an issue, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said. “Then it’s no longer a hypothetical issue.

“It becomes, ‘How does it affect real people? How does it affect their ability to earn a living and feed their families?’ It becomes personal. And there’s nothing more important than that.”

The 2016 event was the largest yet, with more than 175 dealers and industry leaders from across the country converging on the nation’s capital to meet with 90 members of the Senate and House of Representatives or their legislative staff.

Attendees also get updates from the bureaus and agencies that regulate the used vehicle industry, including the FTC, CFPB and Department of Labor, and can ask specific questions about compliance and other issues.

Don’t miss this chance to let Congress hear about how you operate, what you need to do business and how what happens in Washington affects your dealership and your community. Show them NIADA dealers represent a committed, powerful and united force.